Brees, Saints putting focus on game against Bucs

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees throws a pass during the second half of an NFL game against the New York Giants on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO / BILL KOSTROUN

RICK BROWN, Lakeland Ledger

Published: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 7:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 7:23 p.m.

TAMPA - It has been a long season for the New Orleans Saints. But with “BountyGate,” the pay-for-performance system that wrecked the franchise now officially over, the Saints look to finish the remainder of their season strong — starting with Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Bucs.

After losing to the San Francisco 49ers in last year's playoffs, the Saints looked to get stronger in the offseason. They had visions of making a run deeper in the postseason.

But the league said the Saints coaches and players were involved in a scheme that paid money to players as incentives for knocking opponents out of the game.

The league came down hard on the Saints, suspending head coach Sean Payton for a full season, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely, assistant coach Joe Vitt for six games, general manager Mickey Loomis eight games and players — Jonathan Vilma (season), former defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (eight games), defensive end Will Smith (four games) and former linebacker Scott Fujita three games.

On Tuesday, Paul Tagliabue ruled that while he agreed with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that there was a system in place, that it was time to move on and lifted the players' suspensions.

The Saints took a big toll as the perennial playoff team is 5-8 and will not make the playoffs this season. Still, the squad refuses to use that as an excuse.

“This has been a tough season thus far,” said quarterback Drew Brees during his press conference Wednesday. “We have done our absolute best to stay focused and eliminate distractions and fight through it. It is what it is. We're 5-8 and we're trying to finish strong. (The season) did not meet expectation level. It would be very easy to make excuses and blame other people but we're not going to do that.

“Obviously this has been a nine-month ordeal,” he said. “I am so happy for our players. I think this is some serious vindication. They've had to go through a lot. What got overturned was 31 games of suspensions, millions of dollars of salary but most importantly, their reputations. Thank God for their fight, their resolve for justice.”

Brees, who has voiced his displeasure about the suspensions said the league needs to apologize for their handling of the situation.

“The unfortunate thing is the NFL through this whole process, including commissioner Goodell, has been about an outcome instead of a fair process,” Brees said. “That's all we wanted this entire time. This is what we fought for. Finally we got that. What I would like to see is a level of accountability on the part of the NFL and commissioner Goodell in regards to the mishandling of this entire situation.

“We as players hold ourselves and are held to a strict code of conduct on and off the field and we have to be accountable to that, as it should be,” he continued. “I feel like they should be held to the same standards. If someone would just come out from the league office and admit they could have handled this situation better, it would go such a long way with the players and fans...Right now, the league office and commissioner Goodell has very little to no credibility to us as players and I would say a lot of the fans because of the way this has taken place.”

While this season's goals will not be reached, Vitt, who took over as interim coach during Payton's suspension, said the team still needs to finish the season strong.

“At the end of the day, these excuses are not going to come into effect where we are held accountable,” Vitt said. “We're all going to be held accountable for our production this year. That's the way the league is. Nobody is getting a mulligan around here, including myself. I've got to do a better job and I'm going to be held accountable. That's the great thing about this league. We're getting ready to play an improved football team in Tampa Bay. They're running the ball well. They're playing great run defense. They're doing a great job of protecting their quarterback. And no one is giving Tampa Bay a mulligan when they lost a couple of offensive starters on their offensive line. So it is what it is. So we've got to play better and coach better and it starts with me.”

<p><em>TAMPA</em> - It has been a long season for the New Orleans Saints. But with “BountyGate,” the pay-for-performance system that wrecked the franchise now officially over, the Saints look to finish the remainder of their season strong — starting with Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Bucs.</p><p>After losing to the San Francisco 49ers in last year's playoffs, the Saints looked to get stronger in the offseason. They had visions of making a run deeper in the postseason.</p><p>But the league said the Saints coaches and players were involved in a scheme that paid money to players as incentives for knocking opponents out of the game.</p><p>The league came down hard on the Saints, suspending head coach Sean Payton for a full season, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely, assistant coach Joe Vitt for six games, general manager Mickey Loomis eight games and players — Jonathan Vilma (season), former defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (eight games), defensive end Will Smith (four games) and former linebacker Scott Fujita three games.</p><p>On Tuesday, Paul Tagliabue ruled that while he agreed with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that there was a system in place, that it was time to move on and lifted the players' suspensions.</p><p>The Saints took a big toll as the perennial playoff team is 5-8 and will not make the playoffs this season. Still, the squad refuses to use that as an excuse.</p><p>“This has been a tough season thus far,” said quarterback Drew Brees during his press conference Wednesday. “We have done our absolute best to stay focused and eliminate distractions and fight through it. It is what it is. We're 5-8 and we're trying to finish strong. (The season) did not meet expectation level. It would be very easy to make excuses and blame other people but we're not going to do that.</p><p>“Obviously this has been a nine-month ordeal,” he said. “I am so happy for our players. I think this is some serious vindication. They've had to go through a lot. What got overturned was 31 games of suspensions, millions of dollars of salary but most importantly, their reputations. Thank God for their fight, their resolve for justice.”</p><p>Brees, who has voiced his displeasure about the suspensions said the league needs to apologize for their handling of the situation.</p><p>“The unfortunate thing is the NFL through this whole process, including commissioner Goodell, has been about an outcome instead of a fair process,” Brees said. “That's all we wanted this entire time. This is what we fought for. Finally we got that. What I would like to see is a level of accountability on the part of the NFL and commissioner Goodell in regards to the mishandling of this entire situation.</p><p>“We as players hold ourselves and are held to a strict code of conduct on and off the field and we have to be accountable to that, as it should be,” he continued. “I feel like they should be held to the same standards. If someone would just come out from the league office and admit they could have handled this situation better, it would go such a long way with the players and fans...Right now, the league office and commissioner Goodell has very little to no credibility to us as players and I would say a lot of the fans because of the way this has taken place.”</p><p>While this season's goals will not be reached, Vitt, who took over as interim coach during Payton's suspension, said the team still needs to finish the season strong.</p><p>“At the end of the day, these excuses are not going to come into effect where we are held accountable,” Vitt said. “We're all going to be held accountable for our production this year. That's the way the league is. Nobody is getting a mulligan around here, including myself. I've got to do a better job and I'm going to be held accountable. That's the great thing about this league. We're getting ready to play an improved football team in Tampa Bay. They're running the ball well. They're playing great run defense. They're doing a great job of protecting their quarterback. And no one is giving Tampa Bay a mulligan when they lost a couple of offensive starters on their offensive line. So it is what it is. So we've got to play better and coach better and it starts with me.”</p><h3>Notes:</h3>
<p>Tampa Bay offensive lineman Jamon Meredith (ankle) and Da'Quan Bowers (not injury related) did not practice...Tampa Bay cornerback Ahmad Black (Lakeland High, Florida Gators) turned 24 on Wednesday.</p>